Ball catcher and thrower



W. HAAS.

BALI. CATCHER AND THROWER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9 1920.

Patented Apr. 26, 1921.

Int/e72 $01 W Haas UNITED STATES WILLIAM HAAS, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

BALL CATGEER AND THROWER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 26, 1921.

Application filed March 9, 1920. Serial No. 364,530.

To all whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, WVILLIAM Haas, a citizen of Germany, residing atMilwaukee in the county of Milwaukee and State of VVisconsin. haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Ball Catchers andThrowers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to game apparatus in the form of a ball catcherand thrower and it consists in the novel features hereinafter describedand claimed herein.

An object of the invention is to provide a device of the characterstated which is of simple and durable structure and which may be easilyand accurately manipulated for catching a ball on the fly or catching aball which is rolling and it may also be used for casting the ball.

With this object in view the ball catcher and thrower comprises a memberhaving a handle and provided with a flat head which is provided with acurved end. The head is further provided with a longitudinally disposedopening having an enlargement at its forward or outer end, the saidenlargement being circular. The basket structure is at tached to oneside of the head and is adapted to be used for catching the ball. Theopening and the enlargement together with their side edges are adaptedto be used for casting or throwing the ball as will be explained.

In the accompanying drawing;

Figure l is a perspective view of the ball catcher and thrower.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the same.

The ball catcher and thrower comprises a member having a handle portion1 and a head portion 2. The said member preferably made of a strip ofwood and the head 2 is bounded by an arcuate edge 3. head portion 2 isprovided along its median longitudinal dimension with a slot 4: whichcommunicates at its outer end with a circular opening 5.

A basket 6 is applied to one side of the The head portion 2 and the saidbasket is made from a s ngle length of wire which includes side portions7 spaced from each other as at 8, the space 8 lying opposite the slot 4in the head portion 2. The basket does not cover the opening 5.

In use the device may be manipulated'as follows: Assuming that a ball isrolling toward a player, the player places the head portion 2 in thepath of movement of the ball with the basket under the portion 2 and theportions 1 and 2 upwardly inclined with relation to the path of movementof the ball. When the ball strikes the portion 2 it is deflected in anupward direction and by elevating the device rapidly the ball is castinto the air and as it descends the device may be turned in the hand andthe ball may be caught in the basket. If it is desired to remove theball the fingers may be inserted through the opening 8. If it is desiredto throw the ball without removing it from the device, the device isgiven a cast movement similar to that applied to a tennis racket when itis about to strike a ball, this casting movement will cause the ball toroll along the slot luntil it arrives at the opening 5. The ball is heldby the edges of the opening momentarily and at the final stroke of thecast of the device the ball fliesfrom the same and moves in thedirection in which it is directed by the player.

Having described the invention what is claimed is:

A ball catcher and thrower comprising a member having a handle portionand a head portion provided with an arcuate edge, the head portionhaving a longitudinally disposed slot and a circular openingcommunicating with the slot a basket applied to one side of the head andconsisting of a single piece of wire having side portions lying at theopposite side of the slot in the head portion and leaving the opening inthe head portion uncovered.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM HAAS. Witnesses WM. SCHNELLBAEOHER, MARTHA SoHNnLLnAnoHER.

